Huge amount of biodiversity
The Bogotá Botanical Garden, founded in 1955 by Colombian scientist Enrique Perez Arbelaez, is a place full of nature and color. Its name honors the scholar Jose Celestino Mutis, director of the botanical expedition. It is located in the west of Bogota, where he promoted and engaged in conservation, environmental education and research of the diversity of the Colombian flora, including the savannah of Bogota.
Within its collection you'll find a huge amount of diversity: Andean forest, oak forest, cloud forest, coniferous zone, criptogamium (plants that grow flowers), herbs, a rose garden and greenhouses. Of particular interest is the "systematic", a place where plants are organized by degree of evolution. It has pedestrian and vehicular access, and has a waterfall, laboratories, propagation tunnels, environmental classroom and an auditorium for conferences and concerts. There's a library, restaurant, cafe, children's workshops, and temporary exhibitions of beautiful plants like orchis, roses and bonsai.
We took my in-laws here when they traveled to Bogota for the wedding. My mother, a lover of orchids, had already told us that she wanted to come here, which is off the beaten tourist track, away from the historical centre. Being in the botanical garden is like being in a huge park, and you can really find yourself at peace here.
